Ventilated shipping container



June 13, 1950 Filed June 7, 1946 H. A. SIMMS VENTILATED SHIPPING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v \NVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1950 2,511,550 VENTILATED srnrrmc CONTAINER Harold A. Simms, Redondo Beach, Calif., assignor to The Patent and Licensing Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 7, 1946, Serial No. 675,095

1 Claim.

This invention relates to ventilated shipping containers of the type in which baby chicks and the like are transported, and is more particularly concerned with such containers made of corrugated fiberboard or similar strong lightweight, foldable. sheet material.

Generally, the present invention contemplates more readily apparent in the following descrip-- tion and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a completely erected chick box embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l with thecove lifted from the box in order to expose details of the interior construction;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section takensubstantially along lines 4-4 of Fig. l and Fig. 3, one of the upwardly opening, hinged cover sections being shown in phantom to better illustrate the manner in which the cover sections may be independently released andsecured to the box body; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank forming the body of the present chick shipping container.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated a substantially rectangular fiat blank, designated generally by the reference numeral III, which has been stamped, scored and cut out, as indicated, in order to fabricate the body of a chick box embodying features of the present invention. This body blank may be formed from fiat sheets of corrugated fiberboard, solid fiberboard or other similar foldable material which is lightweight, yet possesses adequate flexibility and strength for purposes of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 5, the body blank III has a substantially rectangular bottom I I, end-wall portions l2 and side-wall portions it, all flexibly connected together to fold along score lines it and i5 and thus form a box body with a bottom, and upright side and end-walls. The transverse fold lines it, extending along the oppositeisitle margins of the bottom II of the blank, intersect the longitudinal fold lines l5, extending along the opposite and margins of the bottom. Beyond 2 the points of intersection, and colinear with the fold lines ll, the blank is cut, as indicated at It, to separate the side-wall portions l3 from the end-wall portions II. The longitudinal fold lines ii are, extended fully beyond their intersection with the transverse fold lines, as indicated at H, to thus provide hinged fiaps l8 integral with the side-wall portions I3 and adapted to be interlocked with the end-wall portions l2, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Adjacent the longitudinal edge of each of the end-wall portions II, a scored fold line I9 is formed-which extends substantially parallel to the fold line l5 and provides a relatively narrow hinged flap 20. The fold lines iii are interrupted at two spaced points intermediate their ends by substantially shallow, U-shaped slits, as at 2|. In setting up the box body, the fiaps 20 will be bent slightly inwardly toward each other to thus present pairs of slots 2| along the upper margin ofeach of the end-walls.

The upper edges of the side-walls l 3 are formed with semi-hexagonal riser sections to thus provide elevated portions 22 spaced from each other by a depressed mid-portion 23 complementary in configuration to the elevated portions.

In each of the respective end-wall and sidewall portions there is provided a substantially H-shaped cut forming a slot 24 which is positioned medially of the length of each such wall portion and intermediate the upper and lower margins, the opposite slots of each pair being in alignment. These slots receive and disengageably lock in place the saber end tabs of partition pieces which are located within the erected box body, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

The box body is rapidly and efliciently erected from the flat blank III by bending the end-walls and side-walls substantially at right angles to the bottom and folding the locking flaps l8 inwardly along fold lines I I to lie interlorly of the endwalls. Ears l8, formed on each of the flaps, are

inserted upwardly through the slots 2|. Thus, there is assured a rigid and secure body having reinforced corners frictionally locked against accidental disengagement by the aforedescribed simple locking device which renders unnecessary all stitching, tape, glue or other such fastening means.

It is to be noted that in the erected box body, the horizontal upper edges of semi-hexagonal riser sections of the side-walls extend in a plane somewhat higher than the plane of the upper edges of the end-walls, this being particularly noticeable after the relatively narrow upper flaps have been bent slightly inwardly, as previously indicated, to provide the slots for corner locking purposes. I

A transverse partition is inserted in the receptacle and extends between the opposite end particularly in Figs. 1 and 4, these opposite saber end tabs project outwardly beyond the outer endwalls and are frictionally retained in such position by the resilient portions of the H-shaped slot. The upper edge of the transverse partition is provided with semi-hexagonal riser sections 21 conforming substantially to the riser sections 22 of the side walls [3. Intermediate these riser sections .there may be provided arcuately formed ears 2| at a somewhat lower level than the riser sections 21, these cars being joined together at a still lower level by a substantially horizontal edge, as shown at 2! in Fig. 2.-

A longitudinal partition is next interfitted with the transverse partition 25 in the usual manner. as by means of vertical slots II and 32 provided respectively along the center of the partitions .30 and 25 and extending'from their opposite edges, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, substantially to their respective mid-points. The partition 30 is also provided with'saber end tabs 33 which are projected through the associated H- shaped slots 24 to frictionally lock said partition in upright position in the manner previously described in connection with transverse partition 25.

The upper edge of the longitudinal partition 30 is formed with three upstanding-locking ears 3!, the center ear being located substantially at the mid-point of the partition and the other. two ears each nearer an end of the partition and preferably space equi-distant from the center ear. As best she in Figs. 2and 3, these ears are each provided witha slight undercut notch or recess 16, at least as wide as the thickness of the sheet material, and located, in each instance, on the same side of the ear and preferably at the iunc-' ture of the ears and the upper straight edge of the partition;

The cover for the chick box of the present invention is fabricated from fiat sheet material similar to that used for the other members described above. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the cover ll is made from a blank which is stamped out and creased or scored along six parallel longitudinal lines. As seen in Fig; 2, a pair or longitudinally extending scores or creases "a are formed on the upper surface of the cover along lines equi-spaced from the longitudinal center line of the cover, these scores or creases being spaced from one another a distance equal to the length of the depressed mid-portions 28 formed on the side-walls of the box. Longitudinally extending pairs of crease or score lines b are formed on the bottom surface of the.

cover, the score lines of each of these pairs being spaced apart a distance equal to thelength of the upper horizontal edges of the riser sections 22 on the side. walls, and being located so as to coincide with the ends of those edges, respectively, when the cover is inserted over the boxbody. when the cover is bent upwardly along creases a anddownwardly along creases b, it conformsin vertical section to the semi-hexagonal riser sections and depressed mid-portion of the side-walls It and transverse partition 2'.

The depressed fiat mid-portion ll of the cover is provided with three aligned slots l2 located substantially medially thereof. These slots are of a length and width to accommodate with ease the upstanding ears I! on the longitudinal partition ll. A pair of aligned slots 43 are provided in the cover substantially along the transverse median line thereof, these transverse slots being located on opposite sides of the central longitudinal slot 42 partly along the depressed midsection ti and partly along the inclines of the riser sections adjacent to said depressed section.

These transverse slots are of such a'length and width and are solocated as to permit the entrance therethrough of the arcuate ears 2! located on the transverse partition 26, the reception of these ears through said slots serving to further reinforce said partition in its upright position and .being accomplished at the time the cover member 40 is first engaged with the partitions andbodv of the set-up container.

In the practice of the present invention, the cover is directed into position on the container body so that the cars 28 may be received through the slots 42 and, simultaneously therewith, the recessed ears 35 may be received through the iongitudinal slots 42. In this first assembled position, the cover, being in substantial conformity with the semi-hexagonal riser sections of the side-walls and transverse partition, as previously described, will rest on these members and be like-- wise reinforced thereby, with the depressed central portion ll of the cover resting on the fiat upper edge of the longitudinal partition 30. The cover is then prevented from being accidentally disengaged by sliding it along the longitudinal partition until the ends of the slots 42 abut against the inner edges of the undercut notches 36, as best indicated at 45 in Fig. 1. After the cover has thus been locked with the recesses it of the tab 35, the articulated cover sections 46 and .41 may. be closed and secured to the body by means of the spaced tuck flaps It and It located respectively on the opposite longitudinally bent end flanges It and SI.

These tuck fiaps 46 and 49 are so located with respect to the body slots 2| so as to be slightly offset with respect to the slots when the cover is not in inter-locked relation to the partition 30,

. but in alignment with the slots for ready insertion within the latter only after the cover has been slidably locked in engagement with the notched ears 3!. The width of the slots 2| is preferably such as just barelyto accommodate two thicknesses of the corrugated fiberboard. or

other sheet material used in forming the blanks.

the two thicknesses being provided by the upwardly' extending ears I." of the hinged corner fiaps ll and the downwardly extending cover fiaps l8 and ll. In order to facilitate reception of the flaps and 4! within the slots 2|. the edges of the fiaps may be beveled oil. as at a (and a, not shown) respectively. Locking notches b (and b, not shown) are formed at each side of the fiaps 48 and l! at the'junctures thereof with the flanges 50, 5|, respectively.

As is readily apparent, each articulated section 4i and 41 of the cover member is adapted to be not only aflorded means for preventing injury to these saber tabs and for preventing the cutting oil. of the circulation of air from the exterior to the interior of the container, but also there is provided a convenient and safe means for lifting the closed container by the cover, so long as the latter is in locked position with respect to the container body by engagement of the slots 42 with notches 35. It is to be noted that the hinged flaps 20 and the flanges of the cover are each sufliciently wide so that a complete closure for the container is provided through the overlapping of the flaps by the flanges 50.

Ventilating holes 60 are provided at suitable intervals, as shown, in the walls of the body and in the riser sections of the cover to provide adequate circulation and ventilation for the chicks being shipped therein regardless of how the containers are stacked during storage and shipment. The punch-outs for the vent holes may be cut through but allowed to remain in the hole to be I sustain such compression loading with substantially no danger that the piles will be unsteady or the superposed containers totter or slide relative to one another and frighten or otherwise cause injury to the contents. Even in the event of such sliding or other relative displacement of the superposed containers, the projection of the longitudinal locking cars and of the transverse ears 28 above the depressed surface of the cover serves to prevent such containers from sliding into a position which would effectively reduce or cutoff entirely the circulation of air through the ventilation openings in the riser sections of the cover, and thus create dead air pockets so lethal to the objects being shipped.

Although the container has herein been referred to more particularly as a chick box, it will be understood that this designation has been employed for simplicity of description and not for the purpose of limiting the use of the container. Accordingly, the term "'chick box in the claim is to be understood as including a container for shipping chicks or other poultry.

I claim:

A chick box of foldable sheet material comprising a body having a rectangular bottom, side and end-walls flexibly connected together, said end-walls having slots near each end adjacent the upper edge thereof, said side-walls having integral corner flaps at each end thereof, and the upper edges of said side walls being formed with semi-hexagonal riser sections, said flaps having locking tabs for insertion in said slots to connect. the side-walls with the end-walls, a partition extending longitudinally along the median line of said container and disengageably connected to said side-walls, and a cover comprising a singleblank bent to form a flat mid-section and articulated end sections opemng upwardly independently of one another along score lines spaced laterally from said partition, said cover being adapted to be interlocked with said partition by longitudinal sliding movement, each of the articulated sections of the cover having spaced flaps along each of its ends slightly offset with respect to said slots when the cover is not in interlocked engagement with said partition but in alignment REFERENCES CITED The following referenc'esare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,994,318 Loth Mar. 12, 1935 2,155,450 Shoemaker Apr. 25, 1939 2,195,236 Brunt et al. Mar. 26, 1940 2,333,244 Gordon Nov. 2, 1943 

